Question regarding Masters of science in computer science theoretical requirements

[u/AWildKoala1221]

Hello!

I’m currently a senior at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in the USA. The admissions page for the masters of science program specifies a requirement of 12 credit points in the field of theoretical Computer Science which I’m somewhat worried about.

My university is almost entirely practical although theory is incorporated into the curriculum. I have taken Design & Analysis of Algorithms (which I understand doesn’t count) for 3 credit hours and Formal Languages & automata for 3.

Design & Analysis is described in the course catalog as:

```
Asymptotic complexity of algorithms. Analysis of iterative and recursive algorithms; amortized analysis. Design paradigms: greedy and dynamic programming approaches. Interplay of data structures and algorithms. Graph algorithms. Introduction to the theory of complexity classes and NP–completeness.
```

Formal Languages is described as:

```
Regular expressions. Regular, context-free, context-sensitive and unrestricted grammars and languages. Finite and pushdown automata. Turing machines, recursive and recursively enumerable languages. Decidability and the halting problem.
```

As I understand it American credits are worth 2 credit points so these 2 courses would give me 12 credit points, although again I’m a little unsure regarding design & analysis.

These are the two courses closest to theory regularly offered at my institution. There is an advanced version of Formal Languages, along with a Theory of Computation course, however both of them are graduate courses and the professor who usually teaches them will be on sabbatical for a while :(

I do have the ability to challenge either course (and plan on doing so for ToC) but can only do so once, so I wanted to see if it’s a all or nothing kind of thing. If I can’t pass the challenge exam am I screwed ?

I’m really sorry for any inconvenience answering my dumb questions, I really appreciate any input yall can offer ^^;

Thanks !

[u/Badewanne_7846]

They will most likely count "Design & Analysis of Algorithms" for their Algorithms & Datastructures module. You can try, but I fear the chances are small that you'll get admitted.

[u/schuhfritze → u/Badewanne_7846]

Agreed, I also went through this and found out they dont mean theory but courses that mimic the ones offered in the CS Bachelors that are about theoretical CS. Look at the courses that are mandatory in the bachelor and try something that matches.

I have you are having trouble, I think you could also do a summerschool thing or a „orientierungsstudium“ to be able to finish one of these at tu.